Angry clashes as police shut down illegal rave

CROWDS of revellers at an illegal rave clashed with police after officers with dogs moved to break up the event. Bricks were thrown at a paramedic's car and a man was taken to hospital after being bitten by a dog.

CROWDS of revellers at an illegal rave clashed with police after officers with dogs moved to break up the event.

Bricks were thrown at a paramedic's car and a man was taken to hospital after being bitten by a dog.

Between 500 and 1,000 people were at the event at a disused car showroom on Hyde Road in Belle Vue, Manchester.

Witnesses said that revellers and police clashed and some accused officers of being heavy handed as they tried to shut down the rave on Saturday.

It is understood that a man was treated in hospital after he was bitten by a police dog.

A police spokesman said officers who raided the venue at about 11.20pm were confronted by a crowd who threw bricks at them. He said that paramedics who rushed to the scene to help the injured man were also pelted.

A number of police vehicles were damaged in the clashes and crowd control measures were taken because of the potential danger to officers and the public.

The rave was being held at a showroom that was formerly used by Yes - the car-credit company - and is located close to the Showcase cinema.

Public order

The spokesman was unable to confirm how many officers were used in total. Four people were arrested for public order offences and held overnight.

Within hours of the rave story being posted on this website we were contacted by a number of people who attended.

They claimed that police used `unnecessary' and `excessive' force to end the event.

One reveller, who did not want to be named, claimed he was hit on the legs by a policeman.

He said: "The police wanted us to go back to the city centre and they were really aggressive, rushing towards us with batons.

"I was pushed a few times and then felt a cosh on the back of my leg. They were really out of order - everyone was walking back, but it seemed we couldn't go fast enough for them."

Others claimed that a police dog was `out of control' and allowed to attack at random.

Another witness said: "An officer with a dog let it run at the crowd and it went straight for a girl - she was screaming and being mauled, but anyone who tried to help her was pushed back by the police."

It was also claimed that the clashes continued down Hyde Road and into the city centre.

Greater Manchester Ambulance Service confirmed that a rapid response vehicle was hit by a brick and they took a man to hospital with a dog bite injury.

He was later released.

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